The Freaks of the Ring

Eleven : Percikan

Tony pulls up a map of the surrounding areas on one of his computers alongside the radar once he knows that Rayne and Tierra have left. It probably would've been good to keep her here, but when she's the most stable out of all of us in terms of power control, it's almost a necessary evil. Of course, she's also the same person that knows the desert the best, being an earthly element and all. This is what I get for letting Levi choose who got to first train Fish Boy, honestly.

I glance towards the screen with a sigh, almost clueless to what Tony's trying to tell me. "So what, there's an animal or something out there. What does this matter to us?" I haven't been sleeping the past few days from some sort of disturbance in the atmosphere. It's probably just the sudden appearance of my opposition, honestly. I'm not used to so much water in the air, and it's starting to show. Maybe Levi will have to take over for me in a while, after all. I don't how much more pressure I can handle.

Levi gives me a bit of a sympathetic look, as though they know what I'm feeling, but it's quickly erased. Why is everyone so afraid of showing emotion around me? I'm their leader, not some sort of dictator that tries to keep them in line 24/7 and can't stand the thought of disorganization in the Ring. I mean, I guess I'm a bit of the last part, just call it OCD. But I really hope I'm not as bad as Hitler or Stalin or some other historical figure Doku's found a million books about in wreckages. Why would I want to be?

Tony just sighs a little, tilting the screen towards the others, who have practically gathered on the opposite side of the room. Again, the distance thing is bugging me. If I really wanted to burn any of them, I would've done it already. "There hasn't been anything on the radar for years other than cacti. And those shouldn't even show up anymore, mind you. But this is something living and breathing and possibly out to get us. If there was something natural out there, then it should've been here in that time gap, not nonexistent and suddenly alive. The order of life and death doesn't work like that, we all should know that."

"Yeah, and children aren't supposed to be formed from petri dishes and have control over fire. Your point being?" I snap at him, almost regretting it after it comes out. I know he's trying his best to keep us all safe, but I can't help what comes out of my mouth sometimes. "Maybe something similar happened, I don't know. There has to be some explanation other than vial acts in play here." That, and I just don't want to admit that I look stupid when I'm exhausted. Can I just curl up under a pile of hot rocks or something yet? It's too cold in Tony's room for comfort.

"Kannie, animals don't just appear out of thin air in the middle of a desert. Nature doesn't work like that," he says gently. His voice seems edgy today, as if everything is getting on his last nerve. Him and me both, honestly. "Plus, it keeps moving in and out of the radar. Nothing should be able to do that unless the technology is malfunctioning, which it certainly isn't." No one bothers asking whether he actually checked or not. Knowing Tony, he did. At least five times.

"Okay, so we send someone out there to check on this mysterious creature. What now? How do we know it won't attack or be friendly?" Rem pipes up from a dark corner. I've almost forgotten that they were in here too. It's amazing what happens what someone shuts up and listens for once.

"We find out what we do next after the creature or whatever it is has been examined," I sigh, almost unable to keep my eyes open anymore. I can feel the flames in my eyes flicker for a moment, just making me want to rest even more now. The second those things go out, I'm done for. It's like one of those Pokémon things Mufasa likes from Doku's books. The second the fire dies, I'm a dead woman. Person. Man-made being.

Levi glances over at me for a brief second, and even though I can't see their eyes, I know I've caught them. "First, we'll need a team to examine this...thing. We'll definitely need more than one person on this, obviously for backup and safety reasons. Besides, teams are always stronger." They need to make this speech after every accident, I swear. I can barely get duo searchers out anymore without some sort of reprimanding from Levi. Who's the leader here, again?

"I say Mufasa, Ventus, and Rem go to find out just what we're dealing with. If anyone can figure out whether or not it's actually living or not, it'll be Fasa and Rem. Ventus, you'll just be there for responsibility over these two." Even across the room, I can see her eyes twinkle in amusement. Well, when she was the first one out of everyone to master her powers, it's hard not to recognize that achievement somehow.

"You'll leave in a few hours. Prepare whatever you believe to be necessary supplies and meet me in the transporter at fifteen hours exactly," Levi chimes in, actually making a point to move the hair out of their face for once when they speak to the group going. Even from a distance, their blank white eyes make me shudder a little. Maybe it's that little fear factor that makes everyone nod and take note of the time.

"But most of all, remember that this is a real mission now and not some joke like I've been making it out to be. The safety of the Freaks Ring could settle in your hands for this one." For once, I'm not just saying it to say it. Tony might actually have a point in this thing being potentially dangerous to us all. "You're dismissed, those of you going, prepare. Everyone else, hope for a safe mission today. We're not accepting any casualties, not again."